Can you feed robins

You might notice one following you about as your dig up your garden hoping to nab a few worms as you unearth them. Robins can also eat fruit, seeds, suet, crushed peanuts, sunflower hearts and raisins.

They particularly enjoy mealworms. Robins are fans of insects and worms, but also feed on fruit and nuts in the wild. Putting food out and waiting to see which birds stop by for their tea is always a treat, but not all birds eat the same foods or the same way.

Robins are natural ground feeders, so feeding trays are ideal. Make a mixture of bird seed, sunflower hearts and mealworms, sprinkle it out on a tray and wait for the robins to arrive.

Pop some fruit and mealworms out on the platform and watch them tuck in. However, there are ways that you can make feeding areas more accessible and secure. Ground bird feeders are the best garden feeders for robins for easy access, and bird tables can also be useful in helping protect the food from cats and other creatures.

Covered bird feeders can prevent wood pigeons from stealing all the food that you put out, and help protect robins from predators. During the winter robins tend to eat as many insects — especially beetles and earthworms — as they can, in order to store up nutrients for the cold weather.

Mealworms and calcium worms are particularly useful for robins at this time of year because they can help keep reserves topped up, as can fatty foods such as suet pellets and fat balls. Our Winter Warmer mix can help robins and other birds to get everything they need to keep their energy up. In the summer, however, they may be less focused on the kinds of foods that will keep them warm during the colder weather — so berries and other fruits as well as sunflower seeds and other seeds are often on the menu.

Although they can be fiercely territorial, Robins are extremely friendly. They can even be trained and tamed to eat food directly from your hand. Many myths and legends surround the Robin, and how he became Robin Redbreast. Perhaps this is a big factor as to why he is such a popular and enduring favourite with both young and old alike.

A version of the story is that the Robins breast was burnt red by a fire, which he fanned with his wings to warm the newborn baby Jesus. Robins like to eat a rich and varied, diverse range of food. This can be divided into the kind of food that the Robin can forage for himself in the wild and the kind of food that is suitable for us to provide for him.

But there are exceptions and they can live for many years longer, particularly if they have a good and sustainable source of food. They are particularly fond of beetles and also love to find a delicious fat worm. This is probably a factor in why they are such a popular garden bird. Robins make their body heat by shivering. The energy to shiver comes from food. This robin has also fluffed out its feathers to help it stay warm.

Feeding Winter Robins You can offer robins frozen or fresh fruit. Place apple slices, raisins, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, or cherries on the ground. Robins may not visit bird feeders.

Young robins learn that fruit grows on trees and shrubs. They just don't expect to find it anywhere else! No Thanks! Even the hungriest robin doesn't normally eat birdseed. Robins can't digest seeds, and their beaks are not built for cracking.